It was a big day for the Mt Evelyn batters as all six senior teams posted sizable totals. The top five teams started their two-day cricket in strong positions, while the Sixth XI claimed their first victory of the season.
The Community Bank – Mt Evelyn First XI travelled to Wantirna South for a key match-up for both teams. Without a win, both teams needed a win in this contest to maintain touching distance with the competition’s front-runners. The Devils won the toss and asked the visitors to post a team to chase. Mt Evelyn captain, Campbell Mole, not only lost the toss but quickly lost his wicket in the second over of the innings. Despite the early setback, the experienced pairing of Adam Smith and Jake Blackwell set about building a foundation for their explosive batting line-up to capitalise. Over the course of the next 25 overs, the pair would navigate their team to a solid position at 1/71 before Blackwell would lose his wicket for 27.
Daniel Giblin joined Smith at the wicket, and the pair continued to press the score on and heap the pressure on a bowling attack looking for answers. A partnership of 75 would have the visitors well set at 2/146 with thirty overs still in the bank. Unfortunately, Smith would lose his wicket within sight of a deserved century for an excellent 86. Smith’s contribution would not be understated as it was a well-constructed innings. Cautious early before lifting the run rate. Giblin would kick on quickly, lifting the run rate, however, wickets would fall in a glut to see the innings on a knife’s edge at 6/186. Could the tail extend the innings to fulfil its potential, or would the bowling attack capitalise on the mid-innings wobble?
The brash Jett Hartman would enter the game, and with Giblin upping the ante, Hartman would prove to be the ideal partner for the situation. The pair would blast a brutal century partnership in the space of 13 overs to thrust the innings towards an imposing total. Giblin’s innings would be littered with nine fours and four sixes, while Hartman would blast six fours and a six. Within sight of a century, a long time coming, Giblin would inexplicably fall to a rank full toss for 96. An unfortunate end to a brilliant innings. Hartman would fall shortly after for an even half century and the Mt Evelyn innings would somewhat peter out. Although they would be disappointed not to see out their allotted over, the Mounters would be more than happy with a total of 298.
Although the game is in the favour of the visitors with a large total on the board, by no means is the chase unattainable, and the weakened Mt Evelyn attack will want to be at their best to ensure the team’s first victory of the season.
The Professionals Outer East Second XI continued their good form against Yarra Glen at Gary Martin Oval, but it wasn’t without a struggle. The Mounters would elect to bat first in friendly conditions, and the first half of the day’s play seemed to be in fast forward. Brad Westaway and Luke Jones would continue their good form from the previous round with a brisk opening partnership of 51. Once the partnership was broken with the wicket of Jones, the Riverpigs would quickly wrest control with four quick wickets to have the innings slipping at 4/64. With an urgency to regain control of the contest, the Mounters were able to put together a string of useful contributions and partnerships to ensure that the scoreboard continued to tick over.
Starting with the best rearguard partnership of 73 between Jesse Fraser (45) and Luke Shepherd (45), the hosts were able to maintain their scoring momentum without the loss of further wickets. Contributions from Luke Paterson (38), Joseph Chamberlin (24) and Austin Leanord (13) would be more than useful, whilst an unbeaten half-century from young gun Billie Laird would add a little cherry on top as the Mounters would eventually be dismissed for 290.
Like the First XI, the seconds would leave some overs and runs out there, which would be of some disappointment, as there are always plenty of runs in the Gary Martin Oval surface. The final total could’ve been almost out of reach had they lasted the final overs, but 290 will be a tough chase this early in the season for the visitors.
The Rhead Group Third XI hosted Coldstream in their split innings contest at Gruyere, and had the best of the first day of action. Coldstream would bat first and would find the going tough and scoring elusive throughout their first stint with the bat. All the Mt Evelyn bowlers would be at their best to ensure there would be no reprieve for the Crocs. Daniel Meades would lead the attack with reward taking 3/15, and would be well supported by Graeme Foster (2/11), Sam Van Hoogstraten (1/4), Jake Rigg (1/12) and Alex Whiting (1/26). When all was said and done, the Crocs innings would crawl to 8/94 after their first half of the innings.
The visitors would bite back early with the ball, and would have the Mounters in a bit of bother early at 3/54. Stars of the Sixth XI last week, Jamie Shaw and Sam Van Hoogstraten would then combine forces once again to blast the host into an impregnable position. Shaw would blast 60 runs littered with 13 boundaries, while Van Hoogstraten would contribute 49 of his own, featuring seven fours and two sixes. With Graeme Foster (20) and Alex Whiting (25 not out) finishing with a flourish, stumps would be drawn on the Mt Evelyn innings at an irresistible score of 8/229.
The Mounters would be well pleased with the position of the game after day one, with many possibilities remaining for day two. Quick runs, followed by quick wickets, could see the game open up for a dash at outright points.
The Hop Hen Fourth XI are in a tight contest after day one on the road to Montrose. The Wolves would put immediate pressure on the Mounters’ bowlers, starting with a quick flurry of runs. At 3/128 with 10 overs to go, Montrose looked set for a strong position at the halfway break. The Mounters would tighten the reins over the closing overs, primarily through the miserly left-arm spin of veteran Robbie Wilson, who would be the pick of the bowlers with 2/13. All in all, both teams would’ve been satisfied at the tea interval with Montrose’s first split closing at 4/158.
The Mounters would find the going tough early in their innings and were quickly reduced to 3/17. Enter Jarrod Hartman. No preseason, no training, no sighters, no problems. Campbell Manser would prove to be a valuable ally, stemming the flow of wickets, but it was a Hartman show! He would blast nine fours and 10 sixes on his way to a brutal, unbeaten 130 runs off 73 balls. It was a dominant display. Manser would be replaced by Hartman’s brother, Connor, who would assume the anchor role through to stumps. When stumps were drawn, the Mounters would be 4/193, a slight advantage in the game, but by no means a dominant position.
The Hartmans will resume the Mounters’ innings on day two, and much of the result will hinge on how long they can stay at the wicket. There is still some batting to come, but with Montrose in a similar position, they will need to add significantly to their overnight total. An intriguing day two awaits.
The Lilydale Tyres Fifth XI travelled to Wonga Park, and began their split innings contest well with the ball. Following on from their disciplined display last week, they were again at their restrictive best with the Wonga Park bats finding it difficult to break through with any type of run scoring flow. Wickets would be shared, with most of the Mt Evelyn bowlers restricting the scoring to under three runs per over. At the tea adjournment, the hosts would limp to 6/88, a long way off, pressing towards a big total.
Where the Wonga Park line-up found scoring difficult, the Mounters would strongly come out of the gates with the bat. Andrew Frid enjoyed an extended stay at the wicket with 44, whilst he would be well supported by the damaging Craig Steele (34) as the pair would put on 65 runs and put the visitors in a position of advantage early. Despite the total continuing to tick over, wickets would continue to fall after the partnership and would take some gloss off what would be a strong position at stumps on day one. Mt Evelyn will resume at 7/159, a large advantage in runs, but if their innings is closed off quickly, Wonga will be confident of chasing the runs.
The Flowtec Sixth XI secured their first victory of the season in a close contest against Croydon Ranges on the bottom oval. Mt Evelyn would bat first and would immediately get on the front foot with some fast scoring from captain Chris Anderson and Mikey Gibbons. Anderson would retire for a well-made half-century, whilst Gibbons would be brutal with 40 off 19 balls. The Ranges bowlers would regain some control through the middle overs and things threatened to stall for the hosts. Father-son duo Merg and Jacdan Mikaelian would put together a useful partnership to keep things ticking over, and when Anderson returned to the wicket, the Mounters would be able to post a good total of 8/226. Anderson would finish with an excellent unbeaten 88, whilst Jacdan Mikaelian’s contribution of 23 not out would belie his tender age. A mature innings of tidy stroke play and quick running between the wickets would help the team to their eventual total.
The Ranges chase would ensure a tight contest right through to the final ball. A disciplined approach would see the openers get through the good balls and take toll of anything loose. The slow bowling of Ian Llewellyn (1/10) and Adam Johnson (2/6), and some excellent fielding either side of the break, would tighten the contest in favour of the home team. Chase Missen would return for a tidy second spell and would leave the hosts in a strong position as the required run rate would push beyond nine an over. Anderson would complete a captain’s game, taking 2/9 and navigating his young bowlers through the final six overs. The Ranges would not be disgraced as they would bat through their allotted overs and finish on a credible 9/207.
